What are some of the causes of increased androgens in women?

Common causes of androgen hormonal imbalances in women include PCOS, adrenal tumors, Cushing syndrome, hyperthecosis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and hyperprolactinemia. Pregnancy and ingesting supplementary sources of androgens can also contribute to high levels of androgens in women.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is responsible for 80 – 90 percent of high levels of androgens in women.1 About 70 percent of women with PCOS have high testosterone levels and 20 – 30 percent of women with PCOS can have slightly higher-than-normal levels of DHEA-S.1

HAIR-AN is a syndrome that occurs in some women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.1 Women with HAIR-AN syndrome have androgen excess, insulin resistance, obesity, and acanthosis nigricans (patches of dark, velvety skin) but don’t have the insulin receptor defect common in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.1

Hyperthecosis is responsible for less than one percent of high levels of androgens in women during their fertile years, but for many of the cases of these hormonal imbalances after menopause.1 In hyperthecosis, theca cell nests are scattered throughout the ovaries instead of in uniform pattern as they are in PCOS, and there isn’t follicle development as there is in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. 4 While hyperthecosis characteristics can look like PCOS symptoms, the androgen hormonal imbalances are much higher in hyperthecosis and the masculinizing effects are much greater.1,4

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a group of genetic disorders that contribute to high levels of androgens in women.1 NCAH accounts for about two percent of cases of high levels of androgens in women and is related to blockages of cortisol production and enzyme deficiencies.1

Cushing syndrome is a rare adrenal disorder with characteristics that resemble PCOS symptoms and has to do with cortisol secretion. Glucocorticoids can cause Cushing syndrome as can adrenal gland disorders, adrenal tumors, and other cancerous tumors.1

Androgen-secreting tumors or neoplasms are another rare cause of high androgens in women.1 They have much higher masculinizing effects than PCOS does, and the symptoms tend to develop much more rapidly than they do in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.1

Hyperprolactinemia describes high prolactin levels and high levels of androgens in women.1 The link between prolactin levels and androgen excess is still not understood.1

Pregnancy can account for high levels of androgens in women when a placental enzyme deficiency fails to protect the mother and fetus from the normally-rising levels of testosterone during pregnancy.1

Anabolic steroids and other drugs can contribute to high levels of androgens in women.1 These drugs are used to enhance athletic performance, libido, or for purely cosmetic reasons.1

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of high levels of androgens in women?

Symptoms of high adrenal androgen hormonal imbalances and PCOS symptoms can be similar but there are some differences.

High levels of androgens in women contribute to hirsutism in 70 – 80 percent of women with androgen excess.1 Hirsutism describes excessive and unwanted male-pattern hair growth in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and other hormonal imbalances.

High levels of androgens in women contribute to inflammatory components in the skin and oil overproduction.1 This can lead to acne development. Not all women with PCOS develop acne and acne alone is not a good signifier of PCOS. 4

Androgen hormonal imbalances can also lead to infertility and hyperinsulemia (high levels of insulin in the blood).1 Insulin resistance and high levels of androgens in women with PCOS can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.1

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that can be seen in obese women with PCOS and in women with androgen-secreting tumors.1,4 These patches of dark, velvety skin are linked with Insulin Resistance.4

Virilization refers to a host of masculinizing characteristics that can occur because of high levels of androgens in women.Although the PCOS symptoms of acne, facial hair growth, infertility, and scalp hair loss can mimic the virilization that occurs in adrenal gland disorders, virilization is a term used to describe more severe masculinizing symptoms such as loss of feminine contour, lowering of voice, and extension of the clitoris.1,3,4

Treatment Options

Medical Treatment Options for PCOS Hormonal Imbalance

Treatment for high levels of androgens in women with PCOS depends on ruling out adrenal disorders. As stated earlier, glucocorticoids used to treat some adrenal disorders can worsen Insulin Resistance in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. In addition, disorders like cancerous tumors and Cushing syndrome are life-threatening and need immediate addressing.1 Although women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome do have increased health risks, they most often seek treatment for cosmetic reasons or because of infertility. Ask your doctor to assess your cortisol, DHEA, DHEA-S, and testosterone levels to determine which treatments are right for your PCOS symptoms.

Medical treatments to address high levels of androgens in women with PCOS include:1

Oral contraceptives

Insulin sensitizers

Th antiandrogens finasteride, flutamide, spiralactone, and cyproterone acetate (cyproterone is only available outside the U.S.)

Topical anti-androgen eflornithine

In a 2004 study of 1,000 women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Dr. Azziz and his colleagues found that anti-androgens and oral contraceptives treatments could alleviate the PCOS symptoms of acne, hair growth, and menstrual irregularity but did not help with scalp hair loss.5 The researchers also reported that over 60 percent of the women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome treated with these hormonal suppressants experienced side effects.5

Non-hormonal medical treatments for symptoms of high levels of androgens in women with PCOS include antibiotics and retinoids for acne, surgery for infertility, and hair removal treatments such as depilatory creams, shaving, and waxing.1

Natural Therapies

Natural Therapies for Androgen Excess in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

The Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society espouses lifestyle changes as the go-to treatment for women with PCOS.6 That’s because diet and exercise can greatly reduce Insulin Resistance and PCOS symptoms. If you are overweight or obese, hormonal imbalances are amplified and it is unlikely that other treatments for hirsutism will be effective.1 Losing just 5 -10 percent of your body weight, however, will lessen PCOS hair growth and improve other PCOS symptoms.1

It’s not enough for a woman with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome to go on a temporary diet and exercise plan. Lifestyle modification must be a life-long practice for a women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome who wants to manage PCOS symptoms and androgen excess. A program that helps you understand your behavioral triggers helps you learn healthy habits and offers the social support necessary to sustain healthy lifestyle changes.

Botanicals that have shown promise in reducing high levels of androgens in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome include:7

Curcumin

Flaxseed

Quercetin

N-acetyl cysteine

Pygeum africanum

Saw palmetto

Urtica dioica

It’s important to consult a dietician and/or a doctor before taking any kind of nutritional supplement as they can interfere with other conditions and prescription medications.

The Insulite PCOS System is not intended to be medical treatment, nor is information on this website intended to be a substitute for the advice or care of a health-care practitioner. The Insulite PCOS System is a combination of nutritional supplementation and lifestyle programs intended to help individuals better manage their health and wellbeing. Consult a health-care practitioner before beginning the Insulite PCOS System. Because of ongoing research, clinical experience, and the rapid accumulation of information relating to the subject matter discussed on this website, the website’s users are advised to carefully review and evaluate the information on this website and continue to expand and broaden their knowledge of new information as it becomes available on this website and elsewhere. The use or application of the information contained on this website is at the sole discretion and risk of the user.

Since June 2008, Insulite Laboratories and Insulite Health has supported more than 2.4 million women through the Insulite PCOS System, through this website, through emails providing information and support, through consultations with our Consulting & Advisory Team, through telephone conference calls, through online webinars, through published articles, and most recently, through social media community building and support efforts. Insulite Laboratories and Insulite Health are singularly dedicated to improving the lives of women with PCOS and conditions resulting from Insulin Resistance.

Next Steps

Becoming victorious over the symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is not easy, but you can overcome your PCOS symptoms to live the life you deserve.

It takes strength, courage, and perseverance. It can be challenging and that’s why Insulite Health created this website. It's has information and resources that will help you balance your hormones and reverse PCOS symptoms.

So take these next steps now! Use the links below to learn how to make the changes that will transform your health and your life forever.

Insulite Health, is committed to helping women reverse their symptoms of hormone imbalance. Scientific research has revealed that this imbalance can be a primary cause of many devastating health symptoms. Hormone Imbalance can also underlie the increased risk factors for PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) - a major source of serious diseases as well as cause of excess weight gain, adult acne, unwanted facial hair, depression, anxiety, and heartbreaking female infertility.

This website is written and published by the research team at Insulite Health, an authority on PCOS for over a decade.The information on the Insulite Health website has not been evaluated by the FDA. Products mentioned are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. The information and products are not intended as a substitute for the advice or medical care of a qualified health care professional. Insulite Health urges you to seek the advice of your health care professional before undertaking any dietary or lifestyle changes and to share with your provider any information pertaining to your well-being, including the advantages and risks of using of supplemental nutrition products.

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